HC Deb 02 August 1923 vol 167 cc1686-7
5. Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSON

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will cause an arrangement to be made providing for application to an appeal tribunal on the part of an ex-service man confined in an asylum who is discharged by his petitioner under Section 72 of the Lunacy Act, not having been proved to be dangerous and unfit to be at large, against the decision that he is liable to be detained under threat of loss of pension or allowance?

Major TRYON

The hon. Member does not appear to appreciate that it is by virtue of the patient's classification by my Department as a "Service patient" that the relatives have the power to insist on his removal against the considered advice of the medical superintendent. In such circumstances, it is the practice to inform the relatives that if the man is again returned to the asylum the question of family allowances and, in extreme cases, classification may have to be considered afresh. This is a reasonable procedure which is exercised with the greatest discretion and solely in the interests of the patient's treatment and prospects of recovery. While I am always willing to inquire into any case which the hon. Member may bring to my notice, I am quite unable to accept his suggestion of a formal appeal to a tribunal in cases of this nature.

Mr. RICHARDSON

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that an asylum is a place where these people should be incarcerated, many of them being neither dangerous to themselves nor to others, but who are there amongst people who are both? Is there any hope of these people coming back to normality if they are associated with other inmates who are worse?

Major TRYON

It is perfectly obvious there would be very much less chance of these unfortunate men returning to normality under the hon. Member's proposal. They must have medical treatment, and they are treated as service patients whom it is the duty of the State to look after, and the hon. Member's suggestion that 6,000 certified people should be let loose without any proper medical care is one that has never before been suggested.

Mr. RICHARDSON

I am not asking that these people ought not to have some medical treatment, but my point is that they are in the wrong place, that they ought not to be there, and their future be very much prejudiced by their being in an asylum.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member id making a speech.